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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-17-2024 Agenda PacketDistrict 1 Kevin Coker Cynthia Koan Ahren Stroming District 2 Matt Sircely, Vice Chair LD Richert Michael Shultz District 3 Richard Hull, Chair Chris Llewellyn VACANT Public Comment: When the Chair recognizes you to speak, please begin by stating your name and address. Please be aware that each person is limited to a three-minute comment. AGENDA JEFFERSON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Regular Meeting – April 17, 2024 Tri Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum, Washington 98325 This will be a hybrid meeting with telephone or on-line options. The public is invited to attend in-person, with a limit of up to 50 percent of the venue' s capacity, pursuant to Resolution 24-22. You can join this meeting remotely via Zoom: Jefferson County Planning Commission Regular Meeting Time: Jan 3, 2024 05:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) https://zoom.us/j/96997604223?pwd=NUJoRktHNEtOUjFHTUF1VDdSaXpXZz09 Meeting ID: 969 9760 4223 Passcode: 742684 This option will allow you to join the meeting live. You will need to enter an email address. If you wish to provide public comment, click on the hand icon at the bottom of the screen to “raise your hand.” The public comment period is managed by the Chair. Please sign on 5 to 10 minutes before the official start of the meeting to check sound and video quality. This video will be closed-captioned enabled. Meeting Materials: To access the Planning Commission folder on the county’s Laserfiche Web Portal, either navigate to the Jefferson County Planning Commission webpage & find the link there, or, click on this link Both the username and password to Laserfiche are “public” 5:30 Chair Welcome and Overview Presentation 1. Call to Order/Roll Call 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Approval of Minutes: March 20, 2024 (Note: April 3rd PC meeting was cancelled) District 1 Kevin Coker Cynthia Koan Ahren Stroming District 2 Matt Sircely, Vice Chair LD Richert Michael Shultz District 3 Richard Hull, Chair Chris Llewellyn VACANT Public Comment: When the Chair recognizes you to speak, please begin by stating your name and address. Please be aware that each person is limited to a three-minute comment. GENERAL UPDATES 4. Planning Commission Updates 5. DCD Staff and Director Updates The BoCC enacted a Short-Term Rental (STR) Moratorium April 8, 2024. This provides up to 12 months to work toward regulations governing STRs. Chief Strategy Officer Brent Butler will present to the Jefferson County Planning Commission on May 1, 2024 to review comments received about short-term rentals during a series of three public meetings in March in each of the county’s commissioner districts. PUBLIC COMMENT – GENERAL 6. Public comments from attendees about any topic that is not on the agenda. Note that public comment on agenda items are during the agenda item’s section. 7. Transmitted Information: list any documents that were submitted as part of the agenda a. 2024 Comprehensive Plan Annual Amendment Process Flowchart b. Redistributing Staff memorandum document of March 20, 2024 PC meeting,: 2024 Comprehensive Plan and UDC Text Amendment Preliminary Docket. c. Web link to Chapter 18.45 Jefferson County Code provisions for annual amendments to Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code: https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/JeffersonCounty/#!/JeffersonCounty18/JeffersonC ounty1845.html#18.45 d. Growth Management Steering Committee (GMSC) meeting information can be accessed through the Jefferson County Web Page, Boards & Committees button: https://test.co.jefferson.wa.us/WeblinkExternal/Browse.aspx?id=5157569&dbid=0&repo =Jefferson e. Leader article about the Short-Term Rental Moratorium f. Link to Jefferson County Code: https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/JeffersonCounty g. Flyer for “T-Lab” transportation conference, April 19, 2024. h. Link for “Connectivity Fair, 2024” event, April 20, 2024: https://l2020.org/connectivity- 2024/ REGULAR BUSINESS 8. Preparation for Final Docket Recommendations, 2024 Annual Amendment Cycle a. Synopsis: At the March 15, 2024, Planning Commission meeting, a summary of the 2024 Annual Amendment Cycle Preliminary Docket was provided in the DCD Staff District 1 Kevin Coker Cynthia Koan Ahren Stroming District 2 Matt Sircely, Vice Chair LD Richert Michael Shultz District 3 Richard Hull, Chair Chris Llewellyn VACANT Public Comment: When the Chair recognizes you to speak, please begin by stating your name and address. Please be aware that each person is limited to a three-minute comment. memorandum 2024 report to PC regarding 2024 Comprehensive Plan and UDC Text Amendment Preliminary Docket. An additional project will be placed in the 2024 Annual Amendment Cycle for review. The Port of Port Townsend (“Port”) and Community Development have acknowledged over the last several years, the need to address land use and zoning topics in the Jefferson County Airport Essential Public Facility (AEPF) District. This would include a proposal to expand Airport Overlay III (JCC 18.15.453), and thereby expanding the AEPF. While we mesh schedules between the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review, 2024 Annual Amendment Cycle, and Port planning, we have decided to integrate the review of the Airport Essential Public Facility (AEPF) District and additional properties to include in the AEPF, during the 2024 Annual Amendment Cycle. b. Assignment: Prepare for May 1 public hearing and recommendation letter to BoCC: i. Prepare to Track and organize your findings from your review of the Staff memorandum 2024 report to PC regarding 2024 Comprehensive Plan and UDC Text Amendment Preliminary Docket, (provided at the March 20, 2024 PC meeting), findings from public testimony at the hearing, and overall from the record. ii. Review Chapter 18.45 JCC regarding the amendment process, if necessary. iii. Review JCC 18.15.453 Airport Overlay III. From JCC 18.45.060 (3) Planning Commission Hearing – Report and Recommendation. “The planning commission shall hold a noticed public hearing to accept public comment regarding the suggested amendments on the preliminary docket. Following the hearing, the planning commission shall prepare a report and recommendation identifying those suggested amendments that it is recommending for consideration by the board of county commissioners during the annual amendment process. The planning commission’s recommendation shall be based upon the perceived need, urgency and appropriateness of each suggested amendment.” A DCD Staff analysis will follow and be presented to the Planning Commission in advance of the May 1 hearing. After the May 1 hearing, Community Development would like the Planning Commission to deliberate and complete a recommendation letter, if possible. This will enable staff to bring the Planning Commission’s final docket recommendations to the BoCC during the second regular meeting in May (5/13/2024). JCC 18.45.060(4). c. Options & Decisions: Scheduling option: If it is not feasible for the Planning Commission to complete the recommendations to the BoCC in the same meeting as the hearing, the task will be completed in the next regular meeting, May 15, 2024, for BoCC consideration District 1 Kevin Coker Cynthia Koan Ahren Stroming District 2 Matt Sircely, Vice Chair LD Richert Michael Shultz District 3 Richard Hull, Chair Chris Llewellyn VACANT Public Comment: When the Chair recognizes you to speak, please begin by stating your name and address. Please be aware that each person is limited to a three-minute comment. May 20, 2024. At any rate, the BoCC will need to hold their hearing July 1, 2024, if the Board chooses to hold their own hearing (JCC 18.45.060(4)(a)). District 1 Kevin Coker Cynthia Koan Ahren Stroming District 2 Matt Sircely, Vice Chair LD Richert Michael Shultz District 3 Richard Hull, Chair Chris Llewellyn VACANT Public Comment: When the Chair recognizes you to speak, please begin by stating your name and address. Please be aware that each person is limited to a three-minute comment. 9. 2025 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review Information Items a. Synopsis: The Growth Management Steering Committee (GMSC) held their second meeting April 9, 2024. In that meeting, the GMSC selected the Medium Growth Projection for Jefferson County, published by the State Office of Financial Management. We will hold a brief informational discussion on what the next planning steps are with the GMSC. b. Assignment: None c. Options & Decisions: None 10. Adjourn 621 Sheridan St. P: 360-379-4450 Port Townsend, WA, 98368 PCommissionDesk@co.jefferson.wa.us 1 MEETING MINUTES JEFFERSON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Regular Meeting – January 17, 2024 Tri Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum, Washington 98325 Actual start time 5:31 PM: Welcome Chair and Overview Presentation • Call to Order/Roll Call Kevin Coker Present Matt Sircely Present Richard Hull Present Cynthia Koan Present LD Richert Present Chris Llewellyn Present Ahren Stroming Present Michael Shultz Present Vacant Choose an item. • Approval of Agenda: approved by acclimation • Approval of Minutes: a. March 6, 2024 Regular Meeting: KC 1st/AS 2nd – 6 yay, 0 abstention – approved GENERAL UPDATES 1. Planning Commission Updates: a. MaS: At the short-term rental outreach meeting on Wednesday people expressed a opinions on both sides of the table. b. Stock Plan Committee has completed their work and are ready to formally disband. 2. Action Item: Disbanding Stock Plan Committee. KC 1st/MaS 2nd – 8 yay, 0 abstention – approved. 3. DCD Staff Updates: a. Comp Plan Periodic Review Update- Respondents to the RFP have been interviewed and contract negotiations are underway. b. Upcoming Meetings: April 3: Agenda TBD c. Short-term Rental Meetings: Brent Butler will compile the community comments from the Short-Term Rental meetings and give them to the PC Board. PUBLIC COMMENT – GENERAL 4. Public comments – None 5. Transmitted Information: 2024 Comprehensive Plan and UDC Text Amendment Preliminary Docket. REGULAR BUSINESS • Planning Commission Public Hearing on amendments to Flood Damage Prevention (Ch. 15.15 JCC) a. Synopsis 621 Sheridan St. P: 360-379-4450 Port Townsend, WA, 98368 PCommissionDesk@co.jefferson.wa.us 2 As advertised in the Public Notice, at 6:00 PM, public testimony will be heard regarding proposed amendments to Chapter 15.15, Flood Damage Prevention. Please refer to materials included in the February 7, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting agenda packet. b. Assignment None. c. Options & Decisions It is recommended that the public hearing be continued until May 1, 2024, to allow public agencies (i.e. FEMA and Ecology) to provide their comments to the hearing record. 6:30 pm ADJOURNMENT The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for 2024-04-03 at 5:30. These meeting minutes were approved this ____________ day of_____, 2024. Richard Hull, Chair Residing Secretary Phone (360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us Board of County Commissioners 1820 Jefferson Street PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 Kate Dean, District 1 Heidi Eisenhour, District 2 Greg Brotherton, District 3 For information, contact BOCC Chair Kate Dean: kdean@co.jefferson.wa.us; 360-301-1750 On April 8, 2024, Jefferson County enacted a moratorium for one year to pause land use applications for short-term rentals. The moratorium applies only to permit applications for Department of Community Development (DCD) approval of hospitality establishments per section 18.20.210 of the Jefferson County Code (JCC), and specifically for subsection (3), transient residences or transient guest houses (accessory dwelling units) proposed for short-term accommodations, defined as fewer than 30 days. The purpose of the moratorium is to evaluate whether to change existing regulations. The pause is to enable completion of a public planning process to consider amendments to the development regulations that govern short-term rentals. Kate Dean, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), commented that, “We continue to be concerned about the availability of affordable housing in Jefferson County. That is why the Commissioners declared a housing emergency in 2017 when for-rent vacancy was one percent or less. Additionally, the University of Washington College of Built Environment currently ranks Jefferson County as the second-least affordable County in Washington based on median home prices compared to wages.” Information suggests that there may be over 400 short-term rentals in unincorporated Jefferson County operating without the required land use permits. This moratorium will allow adoption of new regulations, if any, before processing a substantial set of short-term rental applications under current rules. One concern is that without adequate land use regulation of short-term rentals, there may be life and safety concerns or impacts to neighbors. The moratorium ordinance requires County staff to complete a workplan in which DCD will lead a public process to assess and prepare a draft ordinance with possible recommended revisions to the development code. There will be opportunity for public participation during the review process before the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. “The ordinance gives staff a year to complete this process, but we’re aiming to get a proposal on the table for consideration and action sooner than that,” said Community Development Director Josh Peters. Chief Strategy Officer Brent Butler will present to the Jefferson County Planning Commission on May 1, 2024 to review comments received about short-term rentals during a series of three public meetings in March in each of the county’s commissioner districts. The Planning Commission agenda will include a set of preliminary options for potential code amendments. Planning Commission meeting information may be found at this webpage: www.co.jefferson.wa.us/580/Planning- Commission. While the planning process continues, unpermitted vacation rentals will continue to be considered low priority for code compliance, unless there are life-safety concerns or other code violations on the property that warrant code compliance action. Additionally, public nuisance complaints to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will be managed in the same way during the moratorium as before. 2 According to DCD Director Peters, following adopting of any new rules, there will be a grace period for operators of vacation rental businesses to apply for hospitality establishment permits before initiation of an enforcement program. The moratorium ordinance can be found on the county’s homepage: www.co.jefferson.wa.us. A public hearing will be held within 60 days of passage of the moratorium ordinance to allow for public testimony, as required by state law. 4/3/24, 10:18 AM Short-term rental options under review | Port Townsend Leader https://ptleader.com/stories/short-term-rental-options-under-review,162565?1/9 (/)Wednesday, April 3, 2024 MAIN MENU Short-term rental options underreview Posted Wednesday, April 3, 2024 12:00 am By Jon Michael Karpilow The question of whether new policies around short term rentals need to be adopted by the county is on the May 1 agenda of the Jefferson County Planning Commission. Those decisions could have far-reaching implications for residents.  The meeting follows presentations by Department of Community Development (DCD) staff, and citizen feedback, at three public meetings March 12 through 14.  Roughly 40 citizens attended the March 12 hearing at the re house on Cape George Road. Brent Butler, the county’s chief strategy ofcer, presented some of the key issues being studied as the county moves forward in considering new housing policies. Jefferson County ranks second in the state of Washington’s Housing Affordability Index, with the property values on San Juan Island being the only county with more costly properties, making the issue particularly pressing.  Butler began the meeting by bringing the audience up to speed on the breadth of short-term rentals. These nclude non-structure short-term camping rentals (e.g. HipCamp, Glamping), as well as rentals that provide more permanent structures (e.g. Airbnb, FlipKey, Vrbo and HomeAway). He discussed contributions STRs make to local economies, as well as the impact STRs have on the housing market. Local residents, including workers needed by businesses, have experienced increasing difculty in nding housing.       My account (/account/)  Log out (/login.html?action=logout)Subscribe (/subscribe/) 4/3/24, 10:18 AM Short-term rental options under review | Port Townsend Leader https://ptleader.com/stories/short-term-rental-options-under-review,162565?2/9 Butler went on to describe some of the policies that other communities had adopted. For example, San Juan sland takes into consideration local geography to determine the cap on the number of STRs. By contrast, the city of Port Angeles has no location-based restrictions, but limits the number of STRs to two hundred units, or two percent of units in the city, whichever is higher. He also discussed the challenging issue of enforcement given limited public resources. One idea is for the county to consider what ofcials refer to as “authorizing a third party” to enforce Jefferson County codes. In this case that means partnering with companies like Airbnb Inc. — which gets a commission from each booking on its website —  to require any STR it lists to have a license with Jefferson County. Airbnb reported $9.9 billion in annual revenue in 2023. Participants at the meeting shared concerns regarding the effects of short-term rentals on community cohesiveness, and the availability and cost of housing for local workers.  Paul Bezilla, a former resident of Sedona, Arizona who now lives in Cape George, said he appreciated that the county was being proactive about STRs and issued a strong word of caution with the greater community. He described the explosion of STRs in 2016 in his neighborhood in Sedona, a number that increased with the pandemic. According to Bezilla, nearly 72% of the residences in his  neighborhood were converted to STRs, with many being owned by corporate entities and individuals living in different cities. “Airbnb negotiated with the community to put a cap on the number of STRs but the Arizona Board of Realtors put pressure on the state and the deal was blocked,” said Bezilla.  Shannon Boone, Sedona’s housing manager, said STRs currently represent 17% of total residences. She acknowledged that Bezilla’s statement could be accurate given that neighborhoods run by home owner associations limit STRs, thereby pushing them into neighborhoods that do not have HOA protections. Boone also conrmed the impact of STRs on the availability of housing for local workers. “In some instances, the owner sells a home into the STR market and the local renter is displaced and can’t afford anything else in the city or even the surrounding Verde Valley.” The major difference between Sedona and Port Townsend are the laws that govern STRs in each of the states. In Arizona, the state has limited the regulations of STRs in cities and towns. Currently, Washington allows resort towns and destination cities to institute geographic boundaries, caps, and taxes on STRs. osh Peters, the director of the DCD, said that input from the community meetings will be summarized at the May 1 meeting of the Planning Commission. DCD will issue a press release prior to the meeting with what staff has determined thus far, and possible next steps in the process. Comments from the public will be heard at the meeting, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Tri-Area Community Center in Port Hadlock.  Following the meeting, staff and the Planning Commission will provide recommendations on possible policy options to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners. OTHER ITEMS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU PTHS Knowledge Bowl team wins state championship (/stories/pths-knowledge-bowl-team-wins-state-championship,162604) 2024 Comprehensive Plan Annual Amendment Process Flowchart Formal Site-Specific Amendment & Suggested Amendment Proposals Anticipated timeline or required deadline Shading denotes legislatively determined dates Draft Nov. 20, 2023 - Subject to Revision 4:30 pm Reports March 1, 2024 March 15, 2024 est. April 2024 May 13, 2024 July 1, 2024 July/August 2024 September 2024 [by Thursday, October 10: Commerce 60-Day Notice, Hearing Notice, Staff Report Publication] [date: PC Hearing] October 2024 [date: PC Recommendations] [date: optional Joint Workshop] [date: BoCC Review] November 2024 [date: Public Hearing & Action] December 9, 2024 February 2025 PC Recommentdation Report to BoCC Regarding Suggested Amendments DCD Staff Report, SEPA Addendum & Recommendations on Docketed Proposals Planning Commission Recommendations to BoCC on Docketed Proposals DCD Drafts Ordinance for Final Board Action DCD Compilation of Preliminary Docket & Evaluation Report on Suggested Amendments Applications due no later than March 1 of each year JCC 18.45.040(2)(a) DCD Staff Report evaluating which Suggested Amendments meet criteria to be placed on the Final Docket JCC 18.45.060(1) Staff prepares compilation of Preliminary Docket for public review by the end of the second full business week of March of each year. + All Formal Site-specific Amendments + All Suggested Amendments JCC 18.45.050 Optional Joint BoCC/Planning Commission WorkshopInvite applicants to present proposals JCC 18.45.060(2) Planning Commission Hearing on Suggested Amendments on preliminary docket JCC 18.45.060(3) Planning Commission Report and Recommendation to BoCC on Suggested Amendments for Final Docket JCC 18.45.060(3) BoCC to consider Preliminary Docket by the second regular BoCC meeting in May JCC 18.45.060(4) Possible BoCC public hearing on suggested amendments if majority of BoCC decides to add or subtract suggested amendments to be held no later than the first BoCC meeting in July JCC 18.45.060(4)(a) BoCC adopts Final Docket All timely submitted petitions for Formal Site-Specific Amendments Proposals for Suggested Amendments which the BOCC elects to consider DCD review, staff report, and recommendation of Final Docket, including SEPA review JCC 18.45.070 Planning Commission review of Final Docket proposals & at least one Public Hearing JCC 18.45.080(1) Planning Commission recommendations on Final Docket proposals to BoCC Approve, Deny, Approve with Conditions or Modifications BoCC reviews CPAs and PC Recommendations at regularly scheduled meeting JCC 18.45.080(2)(b) Optional BoCC workshop to review the Planning Commission Recommendations JCC 18.45.080(2)(a) BoCC Public Hearing if change deemednecessary to Planning Commission Recommendations BoCC Decision The final action on the docket must be taken by the second regular board meeting in December of each year JCC 18.45.080(2)(d) Possible Appeals shall be filed with and processed by WWGMHB per Chapter 36.70A RCW JEFFERSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 621 Sheridan Street | Port Townsend, WA 98368 360-379-4450 | email: dcd@co.jefferson.wa.us http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/260/Community-Development Page 1 of 2 2024 Comprehensive Plan and UDC Text Amendment Preliminary Docket TO: Planning Commission FROM: Department of Community Development (DCD) DATE: March 15, 2024 Under Chapter 18.45 of the Jefferson County Code (JCC), the Jefferson County Department of Community Development (DCD) annually accepts applications for formal site-specific Comprehensive Plan amendments (re-zones, overlays) and suggested text amendments to the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code (UDC) for inclusion in an annual Comprehensive Plan amendment preliminary docket. DCD accepts applications for each annual cycle’s docket until March 1st. In addition, DCD submits staff suggested amendments for potential inclusion on the final docket. Pursuant to JCC 18.45.050(2) Compilation of Preliminary Docket, by the end of the second full business week of March of each year, the Administrator shall maintain for public review the annual list of suggested amendments made by citizens, the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) or members of the BoCC, County Staff, County Departments or other agencies. Jefferson County Department of Community Development did not receive any site-specific amendment proposals for the 2024 annual Comprehensive Plan (CP)/Unified Development Code (UDC) amendment cycle. However, as described below, four suggested amendment proposals from Community Development and the Planning Commission are proposed for consideration in the 2024 annual amendment cycle. In April and May, 2024, Community Development will review the suggested amendments on the 2024 Preliminary Docket, and provide recommendations regarding the content of the 2024 Final Docket. The analysis is based on need, urgency, appropriateness, DCD staff capacity to substantively review and manage the suggested text amendments, and anticipated DCD cost and budget for processing the suggested amendments. Community Development’s analysis will be brought to the Planning Commission for public review and Planning Commission recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners in, or about, April and May, 2024. 1. 2024 PORT HADLOCK/IRONDALE UGA CP & UDC AMENDMENTS, and Potential 2024 UGA Amendments Continuing Through 2025 PERIODIC REVIEW, Including Middle Housing UDC Amendments Project Description: Amendments to the Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area development regulations (Ch. 18.18) are proposed to address changing conditions resulting from the initiation of a sanitary sewer system, as well as responding to legislative amendments to the state Growth Management Act (GMA). Future public outreach and contracted work on middle housing amendments will result in specific proposed text amendments to CP & UDC. Page 2 of 2 Unit Lot Subdivision standards applicable to Single -Family Attached and Townhouse Unit Lot Development and Single-Family Detached and Cottage Housing will be proposed in 2024. These provisions would apply to the division of land for single-family attached dwelling developments or may be used as an alternative to a conventional subdivision or short subdivision for the development of single-family detached dwellings. The proposal also addresses the application of automatic fire-extinguishing systems in Title 15. 2. 2024 UGA CP & UDC AMENDMENTS TO AMEND THE PORT TOWNSEND URBAN GROWTH AREA BY INCORPORATING NEW FARM LAND INTO THE COUNTY UPON DEANNEXATION AND EXPANDING THE URBAN GROWTH AREA TO INCLUDE THE CASWELL-BROWN VILLAGE AND ADJACENT PROPERTIES. Project Description: Investigate the applicability and implementation of recent state legislative amendments to GMA governing the process of land swaps between rural lands and urban growth areas. Amendment proposals include Zoning Text Amendments, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Zoning Map Amendments. 3. 2024 Annual Amendment Cycle, Planning Commission UDC Rural Housing Amendments Carried Forward from 2023. Project Description: Develop new rural housing code to add development regulations specific to congregate housing and farmworker housing. Create a rural housing overlay applying alternative development standards for sites that can accommodate multiple small homes or a congregate housing structure in a single-family residential zone, and that can demonstrate lower impacts through meeting new performance standards. 4. 2024 UDC Annual Housekeeping Amendment Docket Project Description: Annual Housekeeping Docket of Proposed UDC amendments to reconcile with state legislative amendments, correct scrivener errors, or provide consistency updates not addressed by other suggested amendments. Further information on the applications, process or access to application materials are available by contacting Community Development at 360-379-4450.